The car is already super light I believe since ditching the factory exhaust, steel rims with 225s, no window motors, no seat motors, drivers air bag, 9c1 seats with steel plates, etc etc. not a lot of wires running this way and that. I even think the new hood weighs less. Hell, even the springs weigh less than the 9C1 stockers. I'm not saying its a feather, but more than likely lighter than an impala or loaded b4u.

Anyway...

I'm not looking for a race car, but enjoy stop light racing and passing mustangs on the highway.

MPGs aren't a HUGE concern, but I do get great mileage now, since I've owned the car.

Thanks for your input.

sdstick

Posts : 4284Join date : 2009-03-20Location : Revere, MA

Subject: Re: Gear discussion? Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:27 pm

My original SS had 3.08'sMy 96 has 3.42My new DD has 3.73I've driven most of the time on SS wheels w/ 40 & 50 series 275's & 255'sI've found that all of the above allow for way more top end then you can regularly useMeaning...how frequently do you go 100+?So....my sugggestion is 3.73 MIN.....I'll be going 4.11 if I can ever get a rear built.Gas mileage?....if your mileage is good now....you wont regret gears.

Youre not going to be scary quick UNTIL you do the heads camAt THAT point, your gonna have trouble hooking up anyway

I've never really been able to tell the difference tire diameters make...havent changed much tho

Given that you are running an OD transmission you have a lot of choices....

If I remember correctly....4l60e had an OD of .696:1 so let me give you an idea of where you would be RPM wise based on your gears...

Right now with a 3.08 at 2k rpm in OD you should be cruising at 72mph

With 3.42 at 2k rpm, you will be at 65mph

...and if you went with something like a 3.73, you would be down to 60mph

Me personally.....if I was running an OD trans and wanted the most out of my car from stop to stop....I would run the 3.73s as a good compromise. At 75mph you are still only turning 2500rpm which isnt god awful, you should be able to maintain some of that fuel economy, and the car should really wake up around town and off mid throttle gallops.

If you went to a 28" tire, the rpms would be much closer to what you would experience with 3.42s on your 26's, but obviously that comes with added weight, more rotating mass, and a larger tire to turn which would most likely negate some of your new gearing until you start making more power.

Sorry if this seems like rambling...im tired lol.

bfurches

Posts : 1061Join date : 2010-04-20Age : 30Location : Springfield, MA

Subject: Re: Gear discussion? Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:31 pm

sdstick wrote:

So....my sugggestion is 3.73 MIN.....I'll be going 4.11 if I can ever get a rear built.

Shoot me a text tomorrow Steve.

bfurches

Posts : 1061Join date : 2010-04-20Age : 30Location : Springfield, MA

Subject: Re: Gear discussion? Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:36 pm

MASShole9C1 wrote:

I've been reading quite a bit online about rear end ratio swaps. With tire size being a factor in the overall use of the gear set, I'm a little puzzled.

Think of it kinda like this.....the taller the tire....the more gear you are essentially taking out of the car.

a 28" having a larger overall circumference will always cover more distance per axle revolution then a 26" on the same gear...basically meaning the shorter tire will always cover less distance (requiring more rpm to cover the same distance as said taller tire).

MASShole9C1

Posts : 4233Join date : 2009-12-16

Subject: Re: Gear discussion? Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:23 am

Thanks guys! This is good stuff right here! Exactly what I'm wanting to learn.